Al Capone's Chicago

School Library Journal

Gr 5 Up-Under the guise of being a guide for young tourists to 1929 Chicago, this series entry offers a you-were-there journey to an important period in American history. Of course, readers must be sophisticated enough to be able to place themselves in the contemporary state of mind of Prohibition, Pullman porters, fancy department stores, Louis Armstrong, Frank Lloyd Wright, "meatpacking moguls," black (not African American, authentically) baseball, ordinances against flesh-colored bathing suits, and-needless to say-gangsters. Chicagoans with a keen eye will notice some incorrect details. For example, the Newberry Library has never been "public" in the sense that it is presented here, the Orpheum Theatre is misspelled, and at one point State Street is incorrectly identified as Dearborn Street. For certain, if this were a true travel guide, many more maps would be required, as well as keys and directions, but those that are present, in addition to the period photos and illustrations, are appropriate and clear. In addition to presenting information, this unique title could serve as a model for an interesting history project, adaptable for any size community.-Andrew Medlar, Chicago Public Library, IL Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.